Machine for making grids



17, E936. L FLAWs, JR

MACHINE FOR MAKING GRIDs Filed lApril 23, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet. 1

wwf/1 [N1/ENTER. Juf-nv' FL A1/V5' JR Hzs'z-'TURNEY' Mach i7, 1936. 1 FLAWSs JR I 2,634,653

MACHINE FOR MAKING GRIDS Filed April 25, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fzvT/E'NTUR A JDJ-IN FL W5 Max-ch 17, 1936. J. FLAws, JR

t MACHINE FOR MAKING GRIDS.

A Filed Aprl`23, 1932 5 SheeS-Sheet 3 INV-EN T /'R JDHN FL AWE JF.

H25 Afr' '1f-'DANE Y' 17, 1936- J. FLAws, JR

MACHINE FOR MAKING GRIDS Filed April 25, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INI/'EN T DR .JJHNFLAWS JPL .His AT Tammy J. FLAWS, JR

MACHINE FOR MAKING GRIDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed-April 23, 1932 IN1/ENTER JDHN 'FL-AWE JB.

Hz@ ra-'dmanr Patented Mar. 17, 1936 TAT " T @FICE MACHINE FOR MAKING GRIDS New York Application April 23, 1932, Serial No. 607,143

13 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for making grids comprising a plurality of supporting wires or side rods which serve to support a coil and hold the individual turns thereof in a xed position with relation to each other. More specically my invention relates to machines comprising means for altering the shape of such a grid from the initial cylindrical to a flat or other desired shape.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine which is entirely automatic in operation and which will stretch and size the grid so that it is completely finished after ejection from said device. Such grids are used ordinarily in the construction of electric discharge tubes, for which purpose they are delivered ready for mounting. The grids produced by my machine are set in a definite shape, due to the stretching and sizing, so that they will not lose that shape in subsequent handling and usage. Other features and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description of species thereof.

The grid winding machine preferably used in conjunction with my present invention comprises a mechanism for continuously feeding forward the supporting Wires and a device for Winding the Wires to be coiled around the supporting wires. The supporting Wires are notched by a disc, the wire to be coiled is laid in the notches, and then the notches are closed up, imprisoning the wire therein. Means are also provided for arresting the feeding of the wire to be coiled during a part of the forward motion of the support wires, to provide for legs at the ends of the grids after they are cut to length. As the grid structure, comprising continuous lengths of Wires which support at intervals helices of Wire wound thereabout, issues from the end of the machine, it passes over a mandrel comprising the spreading means of my invention. When a part of the helix of wire at the end of said grid structure has passed over the end of said spreading mandrel, means provided on the grid machine act to cut the support Wires at a point between the foremost helix of wire and the adjacent helix. Said cutting-off operation leaves a grid of the correct length on the mandrel of my present device, which, as hereinafter described, finishes the grid and delivers it ready for mounting.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan View of a device comprising my invention, and Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a detailed View of an indexing head; Figs. 4 and 5 are end views (Cl. 14o- 71) of grids; Fig. (i is an elevation of an index lock mechanism, and Fig. '7 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 8 is a detailed view of a grid spreader; Fig.

9 is an elevation of a grid locator and Fig. 10 is a front View of a detail thereof; Fig. 1l is a de- 5 tailed view of a mandrel spacer; Fig. 12 is a detailed sectional view of a part of said mandrel spacer; Fig. i3 is a fragmentary elevationV showing the mounting of the turret; Figi 14 is a side view in detail of a side rod squeeze, and Fig. 15 l0 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 16 is a detailed view of the indexing means; Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a grid wire Wiper, and Fig. 18 is a front elevation thereof; and Fig. 19 is a detailed View of the grid wire cutoff operating mechanism.

Referring to Fig. l, at position A, a grid comprising side rods I and a coil of wire II (Fig. 4) Wound about and aixed thereto, is placed upon a mandrel comprising fingers I3, i4. Said mandrel I3, I5 is part of an indexing head compris- 20 ing a body portion I5 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is mounted on a turret I6. The illustrated form of my invention comprises eight indexing heads shown at the positions A to H inclusive. v

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the finger I3 is 25 mounted on a lug il' of the body I5, while the finger I4 is mounted on an arm i8 pivotally mounted on a pin i9 which is mounted in the l body 15. At position A, the fingers I3, I4 are in the closed position as shown in Fig. 3, the arm 30 I8 being held against a bolt 25, mounted in the lug I7, by a spring 2I. The side rods I0 of the grid rest in V-shaped grooves 22 and 23 of the ngers I3 and I4.

The turret i6 with the heads I5 now indexes t0 35 position B. Said turret I5 is mounted on a vertical shaft 2li (Fig. 13) and rotates on a thrust bearing 25 mounted in a post 26 which is mounted on a table 21 (Fig. 2). The turret I6 is indexed through the shaft 2li and a plate 28, (Figs. 40 2, 6 and '7) mounted on a collar 28 in turn mounted on shaft 2d, by an arm 29 of an indexing lever carrying a pin 30 which engages the plate 28 through one of eight equally spaced holes therein. Said indexing lever is rotatably mounted on the shaft 24 and comprises another arm 3l which is rotated by a pin 32 (Fig. 16) mounted in a slide 33 which reciprocates in a holder 34 mounted on a support 35 (Figs. 2 and 7) carried by the table 21. The Slide 33 is reciprocates 50 through a pin 36 by a lever arm 31 pivotally mounted on a pin 38 mounted in the lower end of the support 35. The lever 3l receives its motion through a roller 39 from a cam 40 mounted on a shaft 4I which is mounted in a bearing 42 55 I on the table 21.

on the support 35 and in another bearing of the grid winding machine (not shown).

The pin 30 of the indexing lever 29, 3| is brought into engagement with the plate 28 by means of a lever comprising arms 43, 44, and 45 (Fig. 6), pivotally mounted on a pin 46 which is mounted in a holder 41 mounted on the support 35. The arm 43 consists of a yoke (Fig. 7) which surrounds the bearing portion of the index lever 29, 3| and raises and lowers said lever 29, 3| through pins 48 and a semi-circular collar 49 mounted in a groove 59 in the bearing portion of lever 29, 3|. Thus the lever 29, 3| is raised by means of lever arm 45 operated by a cam 5| mounted on the shaft 4I, through the arm 43, thereby bringing the pin 30 into engagement with the plate 28. The lever arm 31 (Fig. 16) then moves from the position shown in dot dash lines to that shown in full lines, thereby drawing back the slide 33 and causing the index lever 29, 3| to be rotated through an angle of 45. The arm 43 now moves down (Fig. 6) to disengage the pin 30 from the plate 28 and the arm 44 moves up to cause a locking pin 52 through links 53 to engage the plate 28, thereby locking the turret I6 through the shaft 2.. The pin 52 slides in lugs 54 on the support 35. In its lowered position, the lever 29, 3| is retracted through an angle of 45 and is then in position for another indexing movement. Bolts 55 (Figs. 2 and 7) in lugs 56 on the plate 28 press against a lug 51 on the collar 28 to provide adjustment of said plate 28.

A grid locator is mounted at position B which pushes the grid from the position shown at A further onto the mandrel I3, I4 as shown in Fig. 9. Plates 55 (Fig. 10) located on a block 59 push against the ends of the side rods I0 of the grid. The block 59 is mounted on rod 60 which slides in lugs 6I of the support 62. A rod 63 mounted in the forward lug 6I and sliding in the block 59 prevents rotation of the rod 60. The rod 60 is reciprocated through a block 64 slidably mounted on the rod 60, which block 94 coacts with collars 65 and 66 mounted on the rod 60. In moving forward, the block 64 comes up against the collar 65, thereby pushing the rod 90, with the plate 58, ahead, against a spring 66 which provides a resilient movement. The block 54 has a. pin 61 on each side which engages the yoked end of a lever 68 pivotally mounted on a pin 69 in the support 62. The lower arm of lever 68 is actuated through a rod 69 and a lever 10, mounted on a pin 1I in a support 12 mounted on a lug 13 of the table 21, by a cam 14 mounted on a shaft 4|.

. A spring 'I5 maintains the roller 16 on the lever 'I0 against the cam '|4.

As the plate 58 of the grid locator starts to retract, the fingers I3, I4 (Fig. 3) are separated by the action of a lever 11 (Figs. 8 and l) of a grid spreader. Said lever 11, pivotally mounted on a pin 18 in a support 19 mounted on the table 21, is actuated through its lower arm by a rod through an arm 8| of a lever pivotally mounted on a pin 82 in a support 83 mounted on a lug 84 An arm 95 carries a roller 86 which is guided by a cam 81 mounted on the shaft 4|. The lever 11 moves into the position shown by dot dash lines (Fig. 8) against a roller 88 mounted on an arm 89 of the indexing head pivotally mounted on a pin 90 (Fig. 3). Said arm 89 is connected to an arm 9| through bolts 92 which are provided for adjustment. An arm 93, comprising a lever with arm 9|, is forced up by the movement of the arm 89, carrying a link 94 with it, and said link 94, being pivotally mounted on a pin 95 in the arm I8, swings said arm I8 to the left in Fig. 3, bringing it to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby forcing apart the fingers I3, I4 to cause the grid to assume the shape shown in Fig. 5. This action actually stretches the grid wire I I so that it is given a permanent set in that position.

The turret I6 then indexes, carrying the indexing head to position C. A tongue 96 (Figs. 1 and 11) moves forward to enter the space between the fingers I3, I4 as shown in Fig. 12. Referring to Fig. 11, the tongue 99 is mounted on a rack 91 which moves in a support 98. Said rack 91 is reciprocated by a gear segment 99 mounted on a shaft |09 which is mounted in the support 98 and a bearing IIJI (Fig. 1) mounted on the table 21. An arm |02 mounted on the shaft |00 drives the segment 99 through a rod |93 and a lever |04 mounted on a pin |95 which is mounted in the holder 41 (Fig. 2). The lever |04 is actuated through a roller |05 by a cam |06 mounted on the shaft 4I. At the same time the tongue 96 moves forward, a support |01 (Figs. 1, 14 and 15) of a side rod squeeze, pivotally mounted on pins |08 in bearings |09 mounted on the table 21, is rotated from the position shown by dot dash lines in Fig. 14, to that shown by the full lines. Said support |01 is rotated by an arm ||9 mounted on one of the pins |98, and a rod |99', through the lever |04 and cam |96. In the upright position of support |01 a bolt III, in a lug ||2 on said support, rests on the table 21. A pair of jaws I I3, II4 now draw together, and the side rods I0 of the grid I0, II are squeezed and set straight between said jaws II3, I|4 and the fingers I3, I4, with the tongue 99 serving to maintain said iingers in position during the squeezing. The jaws |I3, II4, slidably mounted in the support |01, are actuated by the links I5, I I6 respectively which form a toggle joint. The link I I5 is pivotally mounted on a pin I I1 in the jaw I I3, and the link |I6 is pivotally mounted on a pin |I0 in a projection I I9 of the jaw I I4. A pin |29 connects the links at their other ends, the link I |5 having a yoke end. A rod I2 I, having a yoke end which encompasses both links is also mounted on the pin |29 and slides in a guideway |22 of the support |01. The rod I2| is actuated by a rod |23 and a lever |24 mounted on the pin |05. The lever |24 is driven through a roller |25 by a cam |29 mounted on the shaft 4I. The rod |2I, in moving up, causes the links I I5, IIE to straighten out (Fig. 15) thereby pushing out the jaw I I3 and pulling in the jaw I I4 to accomplish the squeezing operation. After the jaws have been opened 1 the support |01 (Fig. 14) again swings back to allow the indexing head to pass.

No operation is performed on the grid at position D. Between the positions D and E is located a grid wire wiper (Figs. l, 1'7, and 18). The grids, as they come from the winding machine have a short length of free wire |21 (Fig. 17) projecting past one of the side rods. This length of wire |21 hangs approximately in the position shown in Fig. 1'1 and the wiper is provided to this wire substantially horizontal, as shown by the dot dash lines, so that it is in a position to be cut off. The wiper consists of a lever comprising a hook |23 and an arm |29 pivotally mounted on a set pin |39 in a support ISI. A spring |32 is located F between the hook |29 and support |35, and a bolt |33 in the arm |29 is pressed against the support ISI by said spring |32 to render the hook |28 adjustable. The support I3I is mounted on a standard |34 which is mounted on the table 21.

The Wire |21 brushes against the hook |28 and is straightened out thereby.

At position E the strand of wire |21 is cut off by the knife blades |35, |33 (Fig. 2) mounted in jaws |31, |38 respectively which are pivotally vmounted on a pin |39 in the support |49. The jaw |31 is connected by a pin |4I to an arm |42 of a lever having another arm |43 which is pivotally mounted on a pin |44 which slides in a slot |45 in the support |45. The jaw V|38 is connected by a pin |46 to a link |41, the other end of which is also connected to the pin |44. The arm |43 is connected by a pin |48 to a rod |49 which slides in the support |45. The rod |49 is reciprocated by a rod |59 (Fig. 19) and a lever I5I mounted on a pin |52 in a support |53 mounted on a lug |54 on the table 21. A roller |55 on the lever I| rides on a cam |56 and is held thereto by a spring |51. A receptacle |51' receives the cut off portions of grid wire.

From position A to position E a grid push-off plate |58 (Fig. 2) included in yeach of the indexing heads, has been held in the retracted position shown in Fig. 2 and at D in Fig. l. Said push-olf plate |58 is mounted on a bar |59 whichslides in the index head body I5. A roller |53 mounted at the other end of said bar |59 rides in a cam IBI mounted on the post 29 (Fig. 13). Referring to Fig. 1, the cam IBI is of such shape that the plate |53 is held in the retracted .position from A to E, but at F the bar |59 with plate |53 has moved forward and pushed the grid part way 01T the mandrel I3, I 4. At position G the plate |58 moves out past the end of the mandrel I3, I4 so that the grid is pushed off into a receptacle of some kind (not shown). At position H the plate I 58 again is retracting and at A it is in the fully retracted position.

Between positions I-I and A is located a bumper |52 (Figs. 1 and 2). The roller 88 as shown in Fig. 2, strikes said bumper |62 which again places said roller in the position shown in Fig. 3, thus bringing the fingers I3, I4 together so that another grid may be slipped over them.

In operation, a grid comprising side rods I9 and a winding of wire II (Figs. 1 and 4) is delivered at position A, Fig. l, to a mandrel comprising iingers I3, I4, of an indexing head of which I5 is the body portion. The ngers are close together, as shown in Fig. 3. The head I5, mounted on aturret I6 is indexed to position B (Fig. 1) by means of a lever 29, 3! (Figs. 2 and '7) which engages a plate 28 mounted on a vertical shaft 24 which carries the turret I6. At position B the grid IU, II is pushed back over the mandrel I 3, I 4 by plates 58 mounted on a reciprocating rod 6G (Fig. 9). Upon retraction of the rod 69, a lever 11 (Fig. 8) pivoting on a pin 18, comes in contact with a roller 88 of the indexing head and pushes the arm 89 over to the position shown in Fig. 2. This causes the finger I4 to be moved over, thus causing the grid to assume the shape shown in Fig. 5.

The head I5 is next indexed to position C where a tongue 93 (Fig. 11) enters the space between fingers I3, I4. A side rod squeeze comprising a support |51 (Fig. 14) ls also pivoted from the position shown by dot dash lines to a substantially vertical position as shown by full lines. Then the jaws 3, H4 (Fig. 15) are moved toward each other and the side rods I0 of the grid are squeezed and straightened between said jaws II3, II4 and the mandrel I3, I4.

At position D no work is done on the grid, but as the indexing from D to- E takes place a grid wire wip-er comprising a hooked arm |28 (Fig. 17) brushes against the grid to straighten out an end |21 of wire to a substantially horizontal position, as shown by the dot dash lines. At position E, the end |21 is cut oil by the knives |35, |36 (Fig. 2) of a trimmer.

From positions A to E, a grid push-off comprising a plate |53 on a rod |59 slidably mounted in the body I5, has been in position behind the grid as shown in Fig. 2 and at D in Fig. 1, due to the shape of Aa cam I'uI which engages a roller |69 mounted at the other end of the rod |59. After passing position E, the push-olf plat-e |58 moves forward until at G the said plate |58 has passed the ends of fingers I3, I4 and pushed the grid off into a receptacle. After passing the position G the plate |58 retracts, until at A it is again fully retracted. Between positions H and A, the roller 88 strikes a bumper |62, which moves said roller 98 back to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby closing the mandrel I3, I4 so that it is ready to receive another grid.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus for making grids comprising a support wire having a coil of grid Wire secured thereto, a mandrel for supporting a grid, a jaw disposed adjacent said mandrel, and means for closing said jaw against said support wire to squeeze and straighten it.

2. In an apparatus for making grids comprising a pair of support wires having a coil of grid wire secured thereto, a mandrel for supporting a grid, a pair of jaws disposed one on each side of said mandrel', and means for closing said jaws against said supp-ort wires to squeeze and straighten them.

3. In an apparatus for making grids comprising a plurality of support wires having a coil of grid wire secured thereto, a mandrel comprising a plurality of relatively laterally movable fingers for supporting a grid, mechanism for spreading said ngers to alter the cross-sectional shape of said grid, a plurality of jaws disposed adjacent said mandrel, and means for closing said jaws against said support wires to squeeze and straighten them.

4. In an apparatus for making grids, the combination of a movable carrier having thereon a plurality of heads each carrying a mandrel comprising a plurality of relatively movable ngers, mechanism for intermittently moving said carrier, a ram mounted adjacent to the path of travel of said heads to position cylindrical grids on said mandrels, mechanisms for reciprocating said ram, mechanism for thereafter spreading said fingers to flatten said grids and means for causing said mechanisms to operate in propertime relation.

5. In an apparatus for making grids, the cornbination of a movable carrier having thereon a plurality of heads each carrying a mandrel comprising a xed ringer and a movable nger, mechanism for intermittently moving said carrier, a ram mounted adjacent to the path of travel of said heads to position cylindrical grids on said mandrels, mechanism for reciprocating said ram, mechanism for thereafter actuating said movable finger to flatten a grid on said mandrel, and means for causing said mechanisms to operate in proper time relation.

6. In an apparatus for making grids, the combination of a movable carrier having thereon a plurality of heads each carrying a mandrel comprising a fixed nger and a movable nger adjacent thereto mounted on a pivotally hinged arm, a downwardly depending lever pivotally mounted on said head and coacting with said arm, mechanism for intermittently moving said carrier, a ram mounted adjacent to the path of travel of said heads to position cylindrical grids on said mandrels, mechanism for reciprocating said ram, a trip lever mounted adjacent to the path of travel of said downwardly depending lever, mechanism for actuating said trip lever to trip said downwardly depending lever thereby moving said arm and said movable finger to flatten a grid on said mandrel, and means for causing said mechanisms to operate in proper time relation.

7. In an apparatus for making grids comprising a coil of wire having a plurality of spaced supporting wires, the combination of a movable carrier having thereon a plurality of heads each carrying a mandrel comprising a plurality of relatively movable fingers, mechanism for intermittently moving said carrier, a ram mounted adjacent to the path of travel of said heads to position cylindrical grids on said mandrels, mechanism for reciprocating said ram, mechanism for thereafter spreading said fingers to flatten said grids, mechanism mounted adjacent to the path of travel of said heads for squeezing and straightening said supporting wires, and means for causing said mechanisms to operate in proper time relation.

8. In anapparatus for making grids comprising a coil of wire having a plurality of spaced supporting wires, the combination oi a movable carrier having thereon a plurality of heads each carrying a mandrel comprising a plurality of relatively movable fingers, mechanism for intermittently moving said carrier, a ram mounted adjacent to the path of travel of said heads to position cylindrical grids on said mandrels, mechanism for reciprocating said ram, mechanism for thereafter spreading said ngers to flatten said grids, mechanism mounted adjacent to the path of travel of said heads for squeezing and straightening said supporting wires comprising a tongue and jaws, means for inserting said tongue between said ngers and means for closing said jaws against said supporting wires, and means for causing said mechanisms to operate in proper time relation.

9. In an apparatus for making grids comprising a coil of wire having a plurality of spaced supporting wires, the combination of a movable carrier having thereon a plurality of heads each carrying a mandrel comprising a plurality of relatively movable fingers, mechanism for intermittently moving said carrier, a ram mounted adjacent to the path oi" travel of said heads to position cylindrical grids on said mandrels, mechanism for reciprocating said ram, mechanism for thereafter spreading said ngers to flatten said grids, mechanism mounted adjacent to the path of travel of said heads for squeezing and straightening said supporting wires, rams mounted on said heads for pushing said grids off said mandrels, mechanism for reciprocating said rams, mechanism for closing said fingers, and means for causing said mechanisms to operate in proper time relation.

10. In an apparatus for making grids comprising a support wire having a coil of grid wire secured thereto, the combination of a rotatable turret, a plurality of radially disposed mandrels spaced around the periphery of said turret, each of said mandrels comprising a plurality of relatively movable fingers adapted to support a cylindrical grid, means for indexing said turret, and mechanism mounted adjacent the path of travel of said turret for spreading said lingers to flatten the grids thereon.

11. In an apparatus for making grids comprising a plurality of spaced supporting wires having the turns of a coil of grid wire secured thereto, the combination of a rotatable turret, a plurality of radially disposed mandrels spaced around the periphery of said turret, each of said mandrels comprising a plurality of relatively movable fingers adapted to support a cylindrical grid, means for indexing said turret, mechanism mounted adjacent the path of travel of said turret for spreading said fingers to flatten the grids thereon, and mechanism at a subsequent indexing position of said turret for squeezing and straightening the supporting wires of said grids comprising a tongue and pivotally mounted jaws, means for reciproeating said tongue radially of said turret to cause it to be inserted between said mandrel fingers, means for pivoting said jaws to a position adjacent said mandrel fingers, and means for closing said jaws against said supporting wires.

12. In an apparatus for making grids comprising a support wire having a coil of grid wire secured thereto, the combination of a rotatable turret, a plurality of radially disposed mandrels spaced aroundthe periphery of said turret, each of said mandrels comprising a plurality of relatively movable fingers adapted to support a cylindrical grid, means for indexing said turret, mechanism mounted adjacent the path of travel of said turret for spreading said ngers to flatten the grids thereon, a cutter disposed adjacent the periphery of said turret at a subsequent indexing position, and means for actuating said cutter to trim oi a free length of grid wire extending beyond said support wire of said grid.

13. In an apparatus for making grids comprising a support wire having a coil of grid wire secured thereto, the combination of a rotatable turret, a plurality of radially disposed mandrels spaced around the periphery of said turret, each of said mandrels comprising a plurality of relatively movable ngers adapted to support a cylindrical grid, means for indexing said turret, mechanism mounted adjacent the path of travel of said turret for spreading said fingers to flatten the grids thereon, a cutter disposed adjacent the periphery of said turret at a subsequent indexing position, means for actuating said cutter to trim off a free length of grid wire extending beyond said support wire of said grid, and a grid wire wiper disposed adjacent the path of travel of said mandrels ahead of said cutter for engaging the said free length of grid wire and bending it to a horizontal outwardly extending position for the said trimming operation.

JOHN FLAWS, JR. 

